# Episode 33 – The Premium Bowen Experience **Source:** Head2Head Pinball **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2018-03-05 **Duration:** 111m 37s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.head2headpinball.com/2018/03/05/episode-33-premium-bowen-experience/ --- ## Analysis A news segment from News Center 4 featuring Bowen Kerins, an 18-year-old Stanford student who won a major pinball championship in New York, defeating 600+ older competitors. The segment includes interviews at Bay Area arcades where Bowen discusses his passion for pinball and its complexity. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Bowen Kerins won a pinball championship in New York — _News segment states 'The world has a new pinball champion, just home from New York and his surprise win'_ - [HIGH] Bowen defeated 600 other players in the tournament — _News segment: 'he used to beat 600 other players with in New York this weekend'_ - [HIGH] Bowen is 18 years old and a Stanford sophomore — _News segment identifies him as '18-year-old Stanford sophomore'_ - [HIGH] All competitors Bowen defeated were years older than him — _News segment: 'all of them, by the way, years older than him'_ ### Notable Quotes > "A lot of people think pinball is just this ball goes around and eventually hits a couple targets, but it's so much different now." > — **Bowen Kerins**, middle segment > _Demonstrates Bowen's understanding of pinball complexity beyond casual perception_ > "This giant shield comes out and covers your flippers so that you can't see." > — **Bowen Kerins**, end segment > _Example of advanced pinball mechanics Bowen discusses with interviewer_ > "Just as long as there's no underwear in the shot, I don't mind." > — **Bowen Kerins**, early segment > _Shows Bowen's casual humor about living in dorm room with trophy_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Bowen Kerins | person | 18-year-old Stanford sophomore, pinball champion, winner of major tournament in New York defeating 600+ players | | Katherine Heenan | person | News Center 4 reporter who conducted the interview segment | | Stanford University | organization | Institution where Bowen Kerins is a sophomore, likely majoring in math | | News Center 4 | organization | News station that aired the segment | | USA Today | organization | Publication that featured Bowen's photo and mention alongside Jerry Seinfeld | ### Topics - **Primary:** Competitive pinball championship, Bowen Kerins as player/personality - **Secondary:** Bay Area pinball arcade scene, Pinball mechanics and complexity, Youth in competitive pinball ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — News segment presents Bowen's achievement in an admiring light, emphasizing his youth, accomplishment, and intelligence. Tone is celebratory and encouraging. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Bowen Kerins' tournament victory and media coverage indicates significant competitive pinball talent in younger demographic (confidence: high) — 18-year-old defeated 600+ older competitors in major championship; received USA Today mention and local news coverage - **[event_signal]** Major pinball tournament in New York with 600+ competitors, indicating substantial competitive circuit activity (confidence: high) — Bowen competed in tournament in New York defeating 600 other players --- ## Transcript this is New Center 4 at 6 your 24-hour news service also ahead tonight Katherine news service also ahead tonight Katherine Heenan introduces us to the Bay area's Heenan introduces us to the Bay area's own Pinball Wizard the world has a new pinball Wizard the world has a new pinball Champion just home from New York and his surprise win over some older players an surprise win over some older players an 18-year-old Stanford student aren't you 18-year-old Stanford student aren't you proud New Center Forest Katherine Hean proud New Center Forest Katherine Hean met him today about something I didn't met him today about something I didn't see it would be him the pinball champion of the world has an easy laugh in a messy dorm room 18-year-old Bowen Kerins messy dorm room 18-year-old Bowen Kerins he also has a trophy sitting on he also has a trophy sitting on the floor just long as there's no the floor just long as there's no underwear in the shot I don't underwear in the shot I don't mind and a mention in USA Today right there below the picture of Jerry there below the picture of Jerry Seinfeld who Seinfeld's moving to CD ROM Seinfeld who Seinfeld's moving to CD ROM but but I won a pinball tournament so so I get so he gets a picture Bowen is a Stanford sophomore likely to major in Stanford sophomore likely to major in math but he would rather talk about math but he would rather talk about pinball a lot of people think pinball pinball a lot of people think pinball a lot of people think pinball just this ball goes around and just this ball goes around and eventually hits a eventually hits a couple targets but it's so much couple targets but it's so much different different now and this is possibly the best now and this is possibly the best location for pinball so Bowen offered to location for pinball so Bowen offered to show us one of his favorite arcades a place aligned with the new high tech more intricate than ever pinball machines the intricate than ever pinball machines the kind of used to beat 600 other players in New York this weekend all of them by the way years older than him oh right down the M his family and Island will be glad to hear Bowen somehow manages to glad to hear Bowen somehow manages to keep his grades pretty good despite this keep his grades pretty good despite this fascination but spend any time with him fascination but spend any time with him and expect to hear all about his and expect to hear all about his favorite game this giant shield comes favorite game this giant shield comes out and covers your flippers so that you can't see what Catherine Heenan News can't see what Catherine Heenan News Center 4 there is an important question to be asked here how many quarters do you asked here how many quarters do you think have gone into those machines over think have gone into those machines over the years so he could get good at that not to mention the _(Acquisition: youtube_mirror_subs, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: add899eb-f186-466b-8b98-6c4921996abd*